Weather-strip



No. 6l3,342. Patented Nov. I, 1898.

, T. E. WEST.

WEATHER STRIP.

I (Application filed Out.-2, 1897.)

No Model.)

1 10 avwew coz j zwnas Wed, W 16 5 witweoow UNITED STATES ATENT Orrrcn.

THOMAS E. WEST, OF NORMAL, NEBRASKA.

WEATHER-STRIP.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 613,342, dated November1, 1898.

Application filed October 2,1897. Serial No. 653,818. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, THOMAS E. WEST, a resident of Normal, in the countyof Lancaster and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Weather- Strips; and I do hereby declare the followingto be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such aswill enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make anduse the same.

The invention relates to devices for excluding wind and water fromentering beneath a door or like structure and to that class in whichprotecting-strips are caused to overlap each other by the closing of adoor, hinged window, or the like.

The object of the invention is to increase the efficiency, convenienceand durability of such devices; and the invention consists in theconstruction hereinafter described and pointed out.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a partial central transversesection of a sill, threshold, door bottom, and intermediateweather-strips, the door being closed. Fig. 2 is a similar view in thesame plane, the door being wide open. Fig. 3 is a central sectiontransverse the sill, the door being open nearly ninety degrees. Fig. 4is a view at right angles to Fig. 2. Fig. 5 shows a lower corner of thedoor in edge View and in side view; and Fig. 6 is a sectional view ofthe threshold, weatherstrip, and hinge.

Numeral 1 denotes the door, 2 a sill, and 3 a threshold.

4 is the door-casing, and 5 a door-stop fixed to the casing.

6 indicates a plate or strip of an approximately L form incross-section, attached by screws 7 or by other means to the inside ofthe door at its foot.v The part 6 of this strip is downwardly inclinedand extends outwardly beyond the highest part of the threshold. Thelatter has a level top 8, an outward-inclined face 9, and a vertical orapproximately vertical face 10. The side 6 of the strip 6 inclinesdownwardly approximately parallel to the face 9 of the threshold, at theoutside thereof.

11 indicates a strip bent to conform to faces 10 and 9 of the thresholdand hinged to the side. The hinges may conveniently consist of staples12, having one limb passed through a hole 13 in the strip, the staplebeing then driven into the sill.

14 indicates a recess cut in the door-stop 5 to receive each end of thestrip 1].. Each recess-wall constitutes a stop for the strip and limitsits upward movement about its hinges or pivots.

When the door is open, the strip 11 falls upon the threshold and itsdownwardly beveled or rounded edge 11 rests closely upon the flat top orface 8 of the threshold. lhis is important to prevent the accumulationof dirt under the strip and also to prevent passers from tripping and topermit a broom to sweep over the strip without interfering with is work.The plate should be made of such weight that it will quickly drop to thethreshold whenever free to do so, and for this purpose the hinges aremade to act without appreciable friction, as by the construction shownand described.

The lower outer edge 11 of strip 11 rests loosely on the sill and willnot prevent the free escape of water thereunder, as would be the casewere the strip fixed tightly to the sill. If desired, the lower outeredge of the strip may be scalloped or notched, as indicated at 11".

The strip 6, carried by the door, is adapted to slip under and slightlyraise strip 11 when the door is closing by means of a small recess 15,beneath the edge of plate 11 and near its end next the door-hinge,cooperating with a downwardly-bent lip 16, formed on the free edge ofstrip 6 adjacent said recess 15. When the door is closing, the lip 16enters under strip 11 at 15 and raises it sufficiently. to

permit the whole strip 6 to slip under strip 11.

In use when wind or water is driven under the door from the outside tothe free upper and inner edge of strip 11 it is stopped and turned backby strip 6, and since the latter is inclined downwardly and outwardly itwill conduct the fluid back toward the outside, and as its foot or loweredge considerably overhangs the inclined face 9 of the threshold thestrip 6 andsaid face cooperate to conduct water to the vertical face 10,which extends to the outward slope of the sill. The said face or wall 10prevents water driving inwardly under strip 11 and over the threshold,

and this wall may be undercut, as shown in Fig. 6, if desired, toincrease its efficiency in this particular.

As before stated, it is important that the strip 11 be so hinged orpivoted that it will fall flat upon the threshold and so shaped that itsfree or inner edge shall under such circumstances be close to thethreshold. It is also important that the outer side of strip 6 shallincline downwardly and overlapa similar incline on the threshold, and itis further important that strip 11 be so arranged and constructed thatits outer edge will not seriously obstruct the escape of Water, whichoperation is facilitated by the ample space within said strip due to theshoulder or face 10, the latter being also adapted to resist a backflowcaused by wind, as before stated.

The above devices may be varied by skilled mechanics without departingfrom the invention provided the substantial principles of operation andconstruction are preserved. In some cases other hinges than those ofstaple form may be used, or in case of staples it is not essential thatthey be driven into the threshold rather than into adjacent parts,neither are all parts of the improvement limited to use on the bottom ofdoors, windows, or the like rather than on the tops or sides.

In Fig. 5 is shown a device for obviating the passage of air or waterinwardly at the lower free corner of the door.

2 indicates a portion of the end of a strip 6,which is bent up againstthe edge of the door to close the space at that point between the stripand door-bottom to prevent the inward escape of water and air at thatpoint. If desired, the vertical part of the strip may also be made longenough to permit a portion 13 to be bent and overlap the part 12. Thepoint between the parts 12 and 13 can be brazed, soldered, or closed inany suitable manner at 14, though the leak between such parts will beslight in any event.

15 denotes the riveted or chamfered corner of the door, adapted toreceive the bent parts 12 and 13 of the strip. It is not, however, essential to make this provision, since ordinarily the strip 6 will bemade of thin metal, and the usual door-crack will provide space for thebent portions 12, or 12 and 13, if the latter be employed.

Having described my invention, what I claim is- 1. The combination witha door or the like, of a strip 6 fixed to its bottom on its inner sideand having a free edge, a threshold having an outward and downwardincline said strip edge overhanging and extending beyond the upper partof said incline, and a hingestrip 11 adapted to drop upon the thresholdwhen the door is opened, said strip 6 being adapted to conduct wateroutwardly to a line beyond the upper part of said incline, substantiallyas described.

2. The combination of a door, a threshold having an outward incline 9extending under the edge of the door, a hinged strip situated over thesaid incline, and a strip (5 adapted to underrun the hinged strip whenthe door is closed and at such time extending beyond the top of incline9 whereby Water driven under the door above strip 6 is conducted backbeneath the said strip and outside the door, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS E. WEST. Witnesses:

H. P. HERMANCE, W. W. RATTRIDGE.

